Machine for slitting meat



Jan. 1, 1935. J. P. SPANG I MA HINE FOR SLIITING MEAT .Filed March 7,1952 e Sheets-Sheet 1 lnvenTor.

Uoseph Pspung byigauwdmd f A1Ty s.

Jan. 1', 1935.. l J, P, spmg 1,985,074

I I MACHINE FOR SLITTING MEAT Filed March 7,. 1952 e Sheets-Sheet 2-Inven1'or.

J Joseph PSpzng AITys.

WWM

Jan. '1, 1935. I J. P. SPAN G 1,986,074

MACHINE FOR- SLITTING MEAT Filed March 7, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.5.

lnverfl'or.v .Uoseph F? Spang A1Tys.

Jan. 1, 1935. .1. P. SPANG MACHINE FOR SLIT'IING MEAT 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jf w h W l] M. q

\Jo s e p by k/QQMEZT A TTys.

J. P. SPANG Jan. '1, 1935.

' 1,986,074 MACHINE Fofi SLITTING MEAT Filed March 7, 1932 6Sheets-Sheet 5 lr 'wenTor. doseph F? S byw pang A ITys Jan. 1, 1935. J.P. SPANG I MACHINE FOR SLI'ITING MEAT Filed March '7, 1932 6Sheets-Sheet 6 lnvenTor.

\Joseph PSpcmg byWWA W ATTys v Patented Jan. I, 1935 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 13Clalml.

This invention relates'to a machine for slitting meat by forming in themeat two groups of slits which extend part way only through the slice ofmeat and with the slits of one group crossing those of the other group.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a machine for thusslitting meat in which the two groups of crossing slits are formed inthe meat as it is moved forward in the same direction, or, in otherwords, during a single pass of the meat through the machine.

This is accomplished by providing two cut elements, one of which is inthe form of a series or gang of slitting knives adapted to cut slits inthe meat extending in a direction in which the meat is fed through themachine and the other of which is constructed to cut slits in the meatin a direction transverse to the direction of feed of the meat. I Anadvantage of this invention is that the two series of crossing slits canbe cut in the meat with a'singlepass of the meat through the machineFig. 3 is a fragmentary section on the line ii,

Fig. 1 showing the stripper;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4, Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a section on theline 5-5, Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing a different formof stripper from that shown in Fig. 3;'

Fig.7isaviewsimilartoFig.1butshowinga different embodiment of theinvention;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8, Fig.7; Fig. 9 is a section on theline 9-9, Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a section similar to Fig. 8 but showingstill a different embodiment of the invention; Fig.- 11 is a section onthe line 11-11, Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a section on the line 12-12, Fig.10; The operative parts of the machine are mounted on a suitable frame 1and these include means for feeding the meat forward and twomeat-slitting elements, one of which is designed to cut slits in themeat in a direction parallel to the '55 line of feed and the other ofwhich cuts slits in there is provided an endless-belt or feed apron 2for this'purpo'se. This belt is shown aspassing. around two pulleys 3and 4 which are carried by shafts 5 and 6 that are mounted in the frame.One of these shafts is-driven thereby feeding the feed apron 2 forwardin the direction-of the m arrow as, Fig. 1. H

The frame '1 is provided witha platform 0 support 7 on which the upperrun of the belt rests. A

The meat which is being slit is indicated at 8 5 and it is placed on theleft hand end-of the feed apron 2 and in the construction shown in Fig.1 it is fed through the machine from left to right. The slitting elementwhich cuts slits in the meat extending parallel to the line of feedcomprises aplurality of slitting knives properly supported by the frameand beneath which the meat passes as it is fed forward. These slittingknives may be of any suitable shape but I will preferably employ rotaryslitting knives as indicated 25 at 9, there being a plurality or gang ofsuch knives which are fast on a shaft 10 which is journailed in the sidepieces 11 of the frame 1. These rotary slitting knives 9 will preferablybe arranged that they will cut slits 12 in the meat which extend nearlythrough the meat from the top to the bottom but do not cut entirelythrough the meat thereby leaving a thin web or film 13 of unslit meat onthe under face of theslice.

The slitting element which cuts the slits in the 35 meat transversely tothe line of feed comprises one or more slitting knives extendingtransversely to said line and operating to make the transverse slits asthe meat is fed forward. In the construction shown in Fig. 1 there are aplurality of such knives which are mounted on a cylindrical knifecarrier and which are so arranged that as the knife carrier rotates andthe meat is fed forward'the successive knives or blades opera to cut thetransverse slits in the meat.

The transverse knives in Fig. 1 are indicated at 14 and these are in theform of radial-blades which are carried by a roll or drum 15 mounted ona shaft 16 that is journalled in the side pieces 11 of theframe. Therollerdrum 15 is driven in the direction of the arrow b Fig. 1 so thatthe knives will have the same surface speed as the feed apron 2... Asthe piece of meat 8 is fed forward the gang of knives 9 cut the slits 12therein which extend in the direction of feed, and the means for drivingthe feed apron and the two slitting elements may be employed. As hereinshown theshaft 5 maybe a driving shaft to which power is applied andthis shaft is shown as having a gear 18 thereon which meshes with a gear19 on the shaft 16. The shaft 16 carrying the cutting blades 14 isconnectedto the shaft 10 carrying the cutters 9 through the medium of asprocket chain drive, the latter consisting of a sprocket chain 20 whichpasses around sprocket wheels 21 and 22 on the shafts 16 and 10respectively.

The gear connecting the feed apron 2 and the shafts 16 and 10 willpreferably beso constructed that the knives 14 move forward at the samesurface speed as'the meat while the knives 9 will rotate faster therebyproducing a draw or shearing cut.

I will also preferably provide means for giving the. knives 14 atransverse movement during their operation on the meat so that theseknives 14 also operate 'on the meat with a shearing or draw out. Forthis purpose each of the knives 14 is mounted in the roll 15 so as topermit the knife to move relative to the roll in the direction of thelength of the knife or in the direction of the slit which the knifemakes in the meat 8. For this purpose each knife 14 is formed at itsinner edge with a head 23 which is slidably mounted in a correspondinggroove 24 formed in the roll 15. The heads 23 of theknives are thickerthan the blade portion and the heads are retained in position by meansof retaining strips 25 which are situated between the blades and aresecured to the roll 15. The edges of these retaining strips 25 overlapthe shoulders formed at the point where the blades of the knives jointhe thickened heads.

Each blade 14 is given its transverse movement relative to the drum orroll. 15 through the co-operation of a cam and spring. Each blade has atone end a roll 26 which engages the inner face 27 of one of the sides 11of the frame. Each blade is acted on by a spring 28 which urges theblade toward the right Fig. 2 and maintains the roll 26 in contact withthe face 27. The springs 28 are shown as backed up 'on the disk 29 whichis fast on the shaft 16.

The side frame 11 against which the rolls 26 bear is formed with a camportion 30 with which each roll 26 engages as the corresponding knife isentering the meat 8. The movement of the roll 26 over the cam 30 willcause the knife to have a movement in the direction of its length andthis occurs while-the knife is entering the meat 8 so that as eachtransverse slit 1? is being cut the knife cutting the slit is acting onthe meat with a draw cut thus making a clan cut slit.-

The device also includes suitable means for stripping the meat from theknives so as to prevent it from clinging to the knives as the slits arebeing cut. The stripper illustrated for strip- .ping the meat from thegang of knives 9 is in the form of a stripping plate 31 which isprovided with slots 96 through which the knives 9 extend. This strippingplate is yieldingly held against the meat and it extends beyond theedges of the knives so that it holds the meat 8 on the apron andprevents the meat from clinging to the knives 9. Said strippin plate isshown as having its front and rear-edges curved upwardly slightly asindicatedat 32 and itisshown as having at each end a yoke portion 33which .enibraces the shaft 10. Each yoke portion is also shown asprovided with a stem 34 which extends upwardly through two guiding ears35, 36 which are formed on the side 11 of the frame. A spring 37encircles each stem and is situated between the ear 35 and the yoke 33,such spring in'ging the stripper plate downwardly.

For stripping the meat from'the knives 14, I

propose to employ stripper elements which are located between the knivesand which extend longitudinally of the knives. Such stripper elementsare indicated at 38 and each is in the form of a plate or strip which ismounted on a spring support 39 that is secured to the roll 15. Thisspring 39 is in the form of a leaf spring and the centralportion'thereofis secured to the stripper .plate 38 as indicated at 40and the ends of each leaf spring 39 extend through retaining loops 41that are secured to the hold-down plate 25. These stripper plates 38will thus yield upwardly as they come in contact with the meat asindicated'in Fig. 1 and as the knives 14 are withdrawn from the meat thestripper plates serve to force the meat off from the knives and retainit on the feed apron 2.

In Fig. 7, I have shown a'diiferent embodiment of the invention whereina single knife is employed to make the transverse slits instead of theplurality of knives mounted on a rotary drum as shown in Fig. 1; In Fig.'l the feed apron 2 and gang of knives 9 for cutting the slits 12 arethe same as illustrated in Fig. 1. In this em- .bodiment, however, thetransverse slits 17 in the meat are cut by a single knife 42 which has avertical motion and which also is provided with a longitudinal motion.This knife 42 is mounted in a vertically-reciprocating head 43 which isprovided at its ends with upstanding arms 44 that are guided in ways 45formed in the inner faces of the sides 11 of the frame 1. Eachupstanding arm 44 is provided with a roll 46 which is received in a camgroove 4'1 formedin. a cam element 48 that is fast on the shaft 49, thelatter being journalled in the sides 11 of the frame. with thisarrangement the knife 42 will be given a vertical chopping motion and ateach downward stroke it will cut a transverse slit 15 in the 1 knife isformed with a thickened back 50 which fits in a groove 51 extendinglongitudinally of the head 43.

The knife is provided at its end with a roll 52 adapted to engage astationarycam surface 53 as the knife makes ,its cutting stroke, theengagement of the roll with this cam surface serving to move the knifein the direction of its length as shown by the dotted lines Fig. 8. Theknife is acted on by a spring 54 which is confined between the end ofthe imife and a projection 55 depending from the head 43. This spring 54keeps the roll in engagement with the cam surface 53.

The knife is shown in raised position in Figs.'landaandfromtheaboveitwillbeseenthat as it makes its downward orcutting stroke the roll 52 will engage the cam surface 53, therebymoving the knife in the direction of its length as it moves downwardly,as seenby dotted lines Fig. -8.v The slitting of the ,meat, therefore,is done with a draw out which will produce a cleanknife to againmaintained until the knife cut slit. As the knife its raised positionthe spring 54 will cause the have a movement in the direction of itslength. In this embodiment of the invention the means for stripping themeat from the knife is in the form whichare yieldingly held against themeat during the cutting stroke of the knife 42 and which retain suchyielding pressure as the knife is rising from the, meat after havingmade the transverse slit 15.

Each stripping plate is shown as having a stem 57 rising from eachend-thereof, each stem extending through a guiding of the head 43 andeach stem being provided at its upper end with a head 59 which by itsengagement with the head 43 limits the downward movement of the stripperplate. Each stripper plateis yieldingly held on the meat during thestripping operation by means of springs 60 which encircle the stems 5'1and are confined between the stripper plate 56 and the ears 58.

As the head 43 descends to give the knife 42 its cutting movement thestripper plates 56, which are normally held in a position about flushwith the cutting edges of the knife, are brought into engagement withthe meat and as the knife cuts into the meat the springs 60 will yieldand will cause the stripping plates to apply a yielding pressure to themeat. This yielding pressure is.

the meat, said strippers thus acting to strip the meat from the knife.

Any appropriate means for operating the shaft 49 in timed relation withthe apron 2 may be employed without departing from the invention.

' As herein shown the shaft 49, which may be the power shaft to whichthe power is applied, is provided with a worm 61 which meshes with anddrives a worm. gear 62 which is fast on a shaft 63,

fiournalled in suitable bearings 64 carried by the frame. This shaft 63is connected by bevelled gears 65 with a vertical shaft 66 also carriedby suitable bearings 6'1 mounted on the frame, and the shaft 66 isconnected by bevelled gears 68 with 'the shaft 69 carryin the roller 3over which the feed apron v2 passes.

The gearing between the shaft 49 and the shaft 69 'will be so timed thatthe feed apron will be advanced the desired distance between each of thecutting movements of the knife '42.

The shaft 10 carrying the rotary knives 9 is this purpose said shafts 49and 10 are connected by a sprocket chain '11 "which passes aroundsprocket wheels '10 and"12 on said shafts 49 and 10 respectively. Thisdriving connection is designed'so that the knives 9 will operate with acut.

shown in Big. '1 has a verticallytransversely-extending knife. In Figs.10, 11 and 12, I show a construction wherein there are a pluralityof'such knives, two being shown. These knives are indicated at '13 and'14 draw or shear The device and are both carried by a head or crossmember '15 similar to thehead 43.

a vertical reciprocation by the cams 48 mounted on a shaft 49 extendingtransversely of the frame,

each cam having a cam groove 4'1 therein in which is received a follower46 carried by an arm The knives '13 and '14 are mounted to reciprocatein the head '15 in'the direction of their length as described withreference to the knife 42.

The knife '14 is provided at on end with a of two stripper plates 56boss58 on the side directly on the is withdrawn from in'g driven fromthe shaft 49 and for -This head '15 is givenroll '17 adapted totie-operat with a cam-'18 which causes the knife to move in thedirection of its length as the head d, said roll being held against thecam by the spring '19. The knife '13 is also p vided at one endwith a 5roll which operates against a cam 81 and said roll is held against thecam by a spring 82. The two cams 81 and '18 are on opposite sides of theframe so that when the head '15 has its downward movement the knives'13, '14 will be moved'in the, 10 direction of their length'in oppositedirections.

- In this embodiment a plurality of transverse cuts willbemadesimuleouslyeachtimethat' the head 15' makes its downward movement.

The knives '13 and '14 have stripper plates 83 15 associated therewithwhich are carried by the head in the same manner as the stripper plates56. Each plate has a pair of supporting pins 84 rising therefrom whichextend through bearin s in the with heads 85. spring 86 whichyieldingl'y holds the plates in their lowered "position but which becomecompressed during the cutting movement of the knives so that as theknives are the expansive movement of the springs strip the meat from theknives.

The cam surfaces '18, 8'1 and 53 may be formed sides 11 of the frame ormay be on separate cam elements attached to the frame. 30 The latter isthe construction herein sho the cam 53 being formed on a cam plate 8'1which is detachably secured to the side 11 of the frame, the latterbeing pro ded with an opening 88 through which the'cam extends. Asimilar con- 35 struction is provided with reference to the cams '18 anda1. It will be understood that the knives 42 and '13and'14willbesoarrangedastocutslits 15nearly but not entirely through themeat as best seen in 40 Figs. '1 and 9 so that when the slice of meathas been delivered from the machine it has the two groups of crossingslits'cut therein, the slits of each group being out nearly but notentirely through the meat. 4

With this invention the desired groups of slits are cut in the meat 8during a single pass of the therefore, operate more rapidly thanmeatslitting machines passes of the meat to cut the twov groups ofslits. I claim. 1'. In a meat-slitting machin the combination slittingknife for cutting slits in said meat transversely to the direction offeed, a stationary stripper co-operating with the rotary knives to strip60 the meat therefrom and a yieldingly-mounted vertically-movablestripper eo' operating with the trireciprocating slitting knife to'strip meat there- 2. In a meat-slitting machine,.the combination 65withafeedapronforfeedin meatforwardgof a gang of rotary slitting knivesfor cutting inthe meat, as it is fed forward, slits extending in thedirection of the-length of feed, avertieally-movable knife-carryinghead, a slitting knife carried cally-movable knife a movement head in adirection movement and during its downward movement.

4 direction transversely toti ' 4. In a meat-slitting machine, thecombination means rendered ope ment f said tive by the downward movetogive it a movement in a of the direction of feed.

with

aaainstthe mg the knife-ca rying member the knife-feeding means,

tion of its cutting edge and relative to the knifemember.

. 9. In a meat-slitting machine, the combine.-

with

transversely of the line of feed, means to operate 150 081186 the knifeto move towards and from the meat to cut slits therein, andmeans to givethe knife a movement in the direction of its cutting edge and relativeto the knife-carrying member during the meatslitting portion of themovement of the knife.

10. In a meat-slitting machine, the combinaextending transversely of theline of feed, means to operate the knife-carrying member to cause theknife to cut slits in the meat,

and means rendered operative by the movement of the knife toward themeat to cause the knife to move in a direction transverse of the feedand relative to the knife-carrying member.

11. In a meat-slitting machine, the combination with means to feed meatforward, of means to cut in the meat, as it is fed forward, a series ofslits extending in the directionof the line of f a rotary knife-carryingmember situated above the meat-feedingmeanaa knife carried by said tingedge extending transversely of the line of feed, and means to rotatesaid member to cause said knife to move bodily towards and from the meatto cut slits therein extending transversely to the line of feed.

extending transversely to the line of feed, and means carried by therotary knife-ca rying member to strip the meat from the knife.-

machine, the combinameat forward. of means is fed forward, a series 13.In a meat-slitting B5 JOSEPH P. SPAN G.

